Tail Rotor Failures

Apr 24, 2018

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Tail Rotor Failures

One of the examiners we use for helicopter check rides asked us to make a video on loss of tail rotor thrust verses stuck pedal. He specifically indicated that he sees confusion with the handling of these two emergencies. We will get into the thick of this in this video or podcast.

Stuck pedal is noted as having no control over the tail rotor with the pedals, yet you still have a working tail rotor. The tail rotor thrust is stuck at certain setting and cannot be changed with the pedals.

This could be from a broken cable, linkage, or something along that line. You never autorotate with a stuck pedal. Stuck pedal is handled with a power on approach and slide on landing. The approach angle is chosen, based on the amount of thrust your stuck setting is producing.

IE: Stuck left pedal will handle better at a higher power setting, such as a steep approach. A stuck right pedal will handle better at a lower power setting, such as a shallow approach. The last minute heading is controlled with the throttle.

Tail Rotor Failures

A loss of tailrotor thrust may be from a broken tail rotor shaft, faulty tail rotor gear box, or maybe loss of a tail rotor blade(s). This conditions will be identified quickly, by the yaw to the right, and possibly noise or vibration or both.

This conditions will require an autorotation landing to the ground. Entering autorotation will eliminate the torque, and eliminate the need for the tail rotor. The autorotation can be delayed briefly to get to a "spot" for the autorotation landing.

During this brief delay, the helicopter will fly with a right yaw while forward speed will keep it from spinning completely around. This "brief" delay is just that, brief. Continued flight could lead to a more serious emergency, should more damage occur from the broken parts moving around.

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Tail Rotor Failures

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